Improvement in roller-skates



2 SheetsSheefi 2.

W. C. TURNBULL. Roller-Skate.

Patentetd May 6, 1879..

W'ITJV'ESSES UNITED STATES WILLIAM G. TURNBULL, ()F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IM PROVEMENT IN ROLLER-SKATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,081, dated May 6,1879; application filed March 6, 1879.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. TURNBULL, of Baltimore, in the State ofMaryland, have invented certain Improvements in Roller- Skates, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to secure lightness, durability,simplicity of construction, cheapness of manufacture, and efficiency inaction of the parts which give to the roller-axles their necessarymovement to facilitate turning or describing curves by the skater. Tothis end my plan is to employ two standards secured firmly to the bottomof the foot-plate, and provided at their lower ends each with a slot orbearing having an aperture through its bottom, the slot and aperturebeing preferably in the same line and at an angle of about fortyfivedegrees, more or less, those in the front standard inclining forward,and those in the rear standard backward. I employ rolleraxles providedwith enlargements or journalpieces at their middle semicircular on oneside 'to fit the bearings.

A screw-bolt firmly set in each journal-piece projects through theaperture in the bottom of the bearing, and is provided with a nut and anelastic washer or packing to hold the axle in place. The result of thisconstruction and arrangement of parts is, that when the skater desiresto turn, and presses upon one side of the foot-plate more than upon theother he will tilt the foot-plate and standards more or less, which, bythe action of the sides of the slots on the j carnal-pieces, will causethe front and rear axles to turn in opposite directions, the rollers onthe side to which the foot-plate tilts approaching each other, and thoseon the opposite side receding from each other. Thus all the rollers arekept on the floor and in action, substantially as when the skater ismoving in aright line, and when the skate is lifted from the floor, orthe pressure of the foot becomes perpendicular, the elasticpac'kingserves to adjust the rollers to their normal position.

My invention consists, essentially, in combining fixed standards havingbearing-slots with axles that are provided with journal-pieces, asindicated, and it extends to all the details and combinations of partswhich are important to the practical operation of a roller-skate constructed on that plan.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 isa. side elevation, and Fig. 2 a bottom view, showing the front and rearroller-axles turned slightly in opposite directions. Fig. 3 is asectionthrough the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 a section through the. line 44 of Fig. 1.

A indicates a foot-plate of a skate; B B, front and back standardssecured toit's bottom, and having bearing-slots in their lower ends; and0 indicates a bolt-aperture, preferably circular and slightlyfunnel-shaped, but which may be elongated in a direction transverse tothe foot-plate. D indicates a roller-axle with a journal-piece, E, aboutat its middle, and F a screw-threaded bolt or projection from thejournal-piece, which extends through the aperture O. A washer, G,surrounds this bolt, and when clamped in place by the nut H it willalways tend to keep the axlesand standards at right angles, which istheir normal position.

I may, in some cases, dispense with the screw-bolts, their washers, andthe apertures through the bottoms of the bearing-slots, although Iprefer to employ them ordinarily. When I dispense with them I spin overthe margins of the bearing-slots to cover and hold the journal-pieces inplace, or I otherwise secure them in the slots by a pin or cap.

The standards may be made hollow in order to diminish weight, or theymay be composed of two or more columns or supports, so arranged as tosecure strength and lightness. I do not claim any particular form ofstandard.

If desirable to strengthen the roller-axles, I may elongate thejournal-pieces; but in prac tice I have not found it necessary.

It will be observed that .by my invention I dispense entirely withroller-frames for supporting the axles, and reduce the parts necessaryto secure the proper movements or adjustments to a minimum number.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a modification in form of my invention, in which Iemploy trunnions I, resting in bearing-slots of their own.

Instead of either of the forms described, I may use a ball-and-socketjoint, as shown in Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-- 1. A fixed skate-standard, having an inclinedaxle-slot, with a curvilinear bottom and an aperture through the curvedbottom, substantially as described.

2. A skate-roller axle provided with a jourital-piece at its middle,having its upper or hearing side curvilinear, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a fixed skate-stand ard, having an inclinedaxle-slot with a curvilinear bottom, with a roller-axle provided withajournal-piece at its middle having its bearin g side curvilinear,substantially as described.

4. A skate-roller axle provided with a journal-piece at its middle,havingits bearing side curvilinear, and liavin g: a screw-boltprojecting from it, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a skate fo0t-plate, of two fixed standards,each having an inclined slot or bearing that has a curvilinear bottom,with roller-axles, each having a journal-piece at its middle, with itsbearing side curvilinear, the slot in the front standard incliningforward, and that in the rear standard inclining backward, whereby theproper movements of the parts for describing curves in skating areeffected, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a fixed standard, having an inclined slot orbearing and a curvilinear bottom, and a bolt-aperture through saidbottom, with a roller-axle and journalpiece, a screw-bolt, an elasticwasher, and a nut, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto suhscribed my name.

WILLIAM (J. TURNBULL.

Witnesses:

MARCUS HOPKINS, WM. J. lEY'roN.

